Manually back up and restore your documents (Teams & Enterprise)
A manual backup creates a single .zip file containing all your notebooks, which you can restore at any time.
We recommend backing up your Goodnotes documents before any major change — such as switching to a new work device, an IT-managed device reset, or leaving your organisation.
When should I back up?
- Before your IT team resets or wipes your device
- Before You Change Your Authentication Method
- Before your Goodnotes access is removed (e.g. when leaving your organisation)
- Any time you want a personal safety copy of your notes
Back up your documents
- Open Goodnotes.
- Tap your icon in the top right corner.
- Go to Cloud & Backup → Manual Backup → Back Up Now.
- Choose where to save the backup .zip file.
⚠️ Keep Goodnotes open during the backup. If you switch to another app or lock your screen, the backup will stop and you'll need to start again.
Restore your documents (iOS only)
⚠️ Direct backup restore (.goodnotes.zip import) is only supported on iOS/iPadOS.
On Android, Windows and Web: You can still recover your documents by unzipping the backup file on your computer, then importing the individual .goodnotes files into Goodnotes one by one.
To restore from a backup, import the .zip file into Goodnotes:
- Locate your backup .zip file (in your cloud storage or device).
- Tap the + New icon in your Library → Import.
- Select the .goodnotes.zip file and tap Open.
- Your documents will be restored into your library.
FAQ
Will my restored notes be editable, or read-only?
Notes restored from a .goodnotes backup are fully editable — you can write, annotate, and erase as normal. Your folder structure is also preserved. Notes only become read-only if you chose to export them as PDF before backing up.
Related articles
Need help?
If you're a GoodNotes Teams or Enterprise customer and need assistance with backup and restore, contact our support team.